LILAC 2014 Teachmeet Abstract

1. Improving information literacy through annotated bibliography assignments: a
collaboration between library and faculty
Clare McCluskey, York St John University, c.mccluskey@yorksj.ac.uk
The approach outlined here is a collaborative one, designed to boost the information literacy of second year
BA(Hons) Education Studies students via an annotated bibliography assignment. A module tutor on the course
approached the library after encountering a number of problems with encouraging students to use a variety of
resources and reading beyond set texts. The library had already recognised an issue with low resourcing NSS
scores for the programme. It was realised that a joint approach would be beneficial in attempting to resolve these
issues.
The course had been revalidated and a new assignment of an annotated bibliography incorporated into the year
two module in question, in order to try and improve the range of resources used by the students and their ability
to locate and then critically analyse them. The module tutor had worked in student support previously and was
aware that the library could offer expertise in guiding the cohort through the assignment.
The information literacy input into the programme was designed in collaboration with module tutor and it was
decided that it would be provided in two workshops, delivered jointly by the Academic Liaison Librarian and the
tutor, followed by additional individual tutorials if the students wished. The Academic Liaison Librarian therefore
made herself available for follow up tutorials on a one-to-one or one-to-group basis.
The TeachMeet presentation will provide examples of the tasks set in the workshops to support the assignment,
an outline of the assignment itself and the lessons learned from the first time the whole process ran.